Whitley stars as FC Isle of Man beat Cheadle Town

Victory stretches Ravens' unbeaten run to five games

A Ste Whitley double helped FC Isle of Man to their first home win of the season as they ground out a 2-0 victory against Cheadle Town in the NWCFL Premier Division this evening (14 September).

Whitley had the Manx side ahead after just four minutes, slotting home from the penalty spot after Tom Creer was fouled in the Cheadle Town penalty area.

The advantage was doubled with just over 20 minutes played when Whitley rounded Cheadle Town goalkeeper, James Hodges to slot into an empty net.

Despite seeing manager Paul Jones shown a red card for unsportsmanlike behaviour in the first half, the hosts held on to stretch their current unbeaten streak this month to five games.

Tonight's clash at The Bowl saw an FC Isle of Man side looking to build on an impressive midweek victory pitted against a Cheadle Town side without a win in their last five outings.

The Island outfit immediately put themselves on the front foot as striker Tom Creer was felled by Cheadle Town defender Jack Taylor in the visitors' box with referee Peter Leonard pointing to the penalty spot.

Up stepped Whitley who calmly slotted to Hodges' bottom left corner as they 'keeper was sent diving in the opposition direction to open the scoring.

In a first half with few chances at either end, FC Isle of Man made the most of one of theirs to double their lead on 21 minutes.

Winning the ball in Cheadle Town territory, Creer slotted a ball to Whitley to send him through on goal with Whitley then rounding the onrushing Hodges to place his effort into an open goal.

Four minutes after this, however, FC Isle of Man found themselves without a manager on the touchline as Paul Jones was shown a straight red card after being adjudged to have kicked the ball away as Cheadle Town were preparing to take a throw-in.

Meanwhile, the closest first-half opening for the away side came seconds before the half-time whistle as a Kyle Foley cross from the left was met by Rhain Davis who headed agonisingly wide of FC IoM stopper, Adam Killey's left post.

Following the break, it was Cheadle Town who began to dictate possession resolute 'Ravens' defence.

It would take until the closing stages for the visitors to get their major second-half opening with two falling the way of Kaleb Parkinson, first seeing a low cross from six yards out on the right cleared off the line on 78 minutes before being denied by Killey one-on-one with nine minutes left.

Then with just seconds remaining in stoppage time, Cheadle Town spurned the opportunity to grab a late consolation - Foley again finding space on the left flank and fizzing a cross into substitute Harrison Bickerton who sent his point-blank effort wide of Killey's right post.

FC Isle of Man's next match will be away against South Liverpool on Wednesday, 18 September, kicking-off at 7.45pm.

Man of the Match: Ste Whitley (FC Isle of Man)